Utility stool



Sept. 2, 1952 T. R. FINKE UTILITY STOOL Filed Jan. 21, 1949 I N VEN TOR. THEODORE E. FIN/CE V ATTOE/VEY Patented Sept. 2, 1952 UTILITY STOOL Theodore H. Finke, Euclid, Ohio, assignor to The Radiart Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio.

Application, January 21, 1949, Serial No. 71,890

12 Claims. 1

This invention relates, as indicated, to a utility stool, but has reference more particularly to means for adjusting the elevation of the seat of the stool.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a stool of the character described, having mechanism for adjusting the elevation of the stool, which is smooth, efficient and positive in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stool of the character described, in which the seat-elevation adjusting and locking mechanism consists of a minimum number of simple parts which can be mass-produced inexpensively, permitting manufacture of the stool in commercially desirable quantities at low cost.

A further object of the invention s to provide mechanism of the character described, in which worn or broken parts can be easily and quickly replaced, with simple tools.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a stool of novel construction, embodying shock-absorbing elements and other novel features.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a View of the utility stool, partially in elevation and partially in section,

Fig 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a view, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of Fig. 1, showing the latch in operative position, and

Fig. 6 is a cross-section view, taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the stool will be seen to comprise an annular base 1 formed from sheet metal to'provide a depressed central portion 2 having a central opening 3. Disposed above the base I, in spaced relation to the central portion 2 of the latter is a disc 4, also formed of sheet metal, and having a downturned peripheral strengthening flange 5. The disc 4 constitutes a foot rest for the occupant of the stool, and has an opening 6 centrally thereof, Which opening is in axial alignment with the opening 3.

Mounted on the disc 4 is a tube 1 which has rigidly secured in its lower end a metal plug 8. Extending through the openings 6 and 3 and into threaded engagement with the plug 8 is a cap screw 9-, which thus secures the tube 1, disc 4 and base I in assembled relation to each other.

For purposes to be presently described, a rubber pad I0 is interposed between the base I and disc 4, and a similar rubber pad H is interposed between the base I and head 12 of the cap screw, a metallic washer [3 being interposed between the head l2 and lower face of the pad II. The wall of the tube 7 is indented intermediate its ends to form an inwardly extending annular-bead M, which serves as a stop for a purpose which will appear hereinafter.

Telescopically mounted in the upper end of the tube 1 is a tube I5, in the lower end of which av plunger I6 is disposed, the plunger being slidable relatively to the tube I 5, but retained against vertical displacement relatively to the tube 'by means of a snap ring ll disposed in an annular groove 18 of a rod [9 which extends through the plunger. The ring I! bears against the upper surface of the plunger. The plunger I6 is pref erably formed from cold rolled steel and has arouate ends 20 which conform to the inner wall surface of the tube [5, and flat sides 2! connecting the arcuate ends 20. The plunger is also provided with a socket or recess 22, the axis of which is parallel with the axis of the plunger.

Disposed below the plunger [6, in spaced relation to the lower face of the plunger, is a latch member 23, which is also preferably formed of cold-rolled steel, and has arcuate ends 24 and 25 concentric with the inner wall surface of the tube 1, and fiat sides 26 connecting the arouate ends. The rod [9 extends through a central opening 21 in the latch member, this opening being of slightly larger diameter than the diameter of the rod. The latch member is supported for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis by means of pivot pins 28 which are supported by supporting elements 29 having inwardly offset portions 3.0 of rectangular cross-section which are rigidly secured to the sides 26 of the latch member 23'. The upper portions of the elements 29 are of arcuate cross-section, conforming to the curvature of the inner wall of the tube 15, and are. preferably welded to the tube 1 5.

The latch member 23 is normally maintained in an inclined position within the tube 1 by means of a spring-pressed plunger 3| which is disposed within the socket or recess 22 of the plunger l6 and has a rounded lower end which bears against the latch member. The spring for the plunger 29 is indicated by reference numeral 32. In this position of the latch member 23, the lower edge 34 of the end 24 of the latch member bites into and engages the inner wall of the tube 1, locking the tube l against movement relatively to the tube 1.

The upper end of the tube [5 has four circumferentially-spaced slots or recesses 35 therein, into which lever arms 36 extend. The inner ends of these arms are connected to a spider 3'! having a central embossment 38 of inverted cup-like form, and into which the upper rounded end 39 of the rod [9 extends. The outer ends of the arms 36 are connected to a ring 49.

The spider 31 is retained against displacement vertically from the tube i5 by means Of a plug 4| which fits telescopically in the upper end of the tube and is secured to the tube and has a recess 42 in its lower end, into which the embossment 38 of the spider extends. The plug has a shoulder 43 which is in vertically-spaced relation to the upper end of the tube [5, forming an annular recess 44.

The stool further includes a seat 45 which has secured to its lower surface a flanged collar 46, the plug 4| fitting telescopically into this collar. The collar 46 is provided with a set screw 47, the nose of Which may be moved into the recess 44 to lock the seat 45 against displacement from the stool.

Secured to the lower end of the rod 19, as by a nut 48, is a washer 49, which is vertically slidable in the tube 7.

The operation of the stool for the purpose of adjusting or changing the elevation of the seat 45 maybe briefly described as follows:

In the position of the parts shown in solid lines in the drawings, the tube I5 is locked in relation to the tube 1, and this locked relation is not disturbed by anyone sitting on the seat of the stool.

When it is desired to lower the seat 45, upward pressure is applied to the ring 40 at any desired point of the circumference of the ring. ,This causes that arm 36 which is closest to the point of application of pressure to fulcrum about the lower end of the flanged collar 46, causing the embossment 38 of the spider 31 to move vertically downward. This movement is, in turn, transmitted to the rod l9, causing the rod, through the snap ring 11, to push the plunger l6 downwardly into engagement with the latch member 23, thereby causing the latter to assume a horizontal position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, in which position, the latch member is released from locking engagement with the wall of the tube 1, permitting the seat to be moved downwardly to any desired elevation, or, in case the seat is to be elevated from a position lower than that shown in the drawings, to be elevated to any other desired position.

When the desired elevation of the seat has been attained, the ring 40 is released, thereby relieving the downward pressure on the rod l9. When this pressure on the rod is released the initial effect of the spring 32 is to cause the plunger Hi to be moved upwardly out of engagement with the latch member 23, the plunger, acting through the snap ring [1, to return the rod Hi to its normal position. At the same time, the spring 32 acts on the plunger 3| to cause the latch member 23 to move to its inclined position, in which it locks the tube l5 against downward movement relatively to the tube 1.

The bead l4 on the tube 1 functions as -a stop in commercially desirable quantities, at low cost.

Worn or broken parts can be easily and quickly replaced, with simple tools.

Although the invention has been described particularly with reference to a utility stool, it will be understood that the locking and release device which has been described is applicable generally for any use where it is desired to provide such a device for adjusting telescopic tubes or members relatively to each other. Among such applications or uses may be mentioned, antennae, camera tripods, adjustable braces, etc. For such general use, the release spider 31 would bear or fulcrum against a ring rigidly secured to one of the telescopic tubes. Instead of the spring and plunger arrangement shown, a fiat spring could be employed. Moreover, the tube l5 could be extended to provide ears for supporting the latch member 23, instead of employing the separate latch supports 29.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a stool of the character described, a tubular support, a seat-supporting tube telescopically movable in said tubular support, and means for locking said tube in adjusted position, said means comprising a latch member within said tubular support, and spring means effective to normally maintain said latch member in an inclined position in which it engages the inner wall of the tubular support, and means for moving said latch member from said inclined position to a horizontal position, in which it is released from locking engagement with said tubular support.

2. A stool, as defined in claim 1, in which a plunger is mounted in the lower end of said tube, and means are provided for causing said plunger to move said latch member from an inclined to a horizontal position, in which it is released from looking engagement with said tubular support.

3. A stool, as defined in claim 1, in which means adjacent the periphery of the seat of the stool is provided, which means can be manually actuated to release said latch member from locking engagement with said tubular support.

4. In a stool of the character described, a tubular support, a tube telescopically mounted in said tubular support, a seat supported by said tube, aplunger slidably mounted in the lower end of said tube, a latch member inspaced relation to said tube and supported by said tube for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, and means reacting on said plunger and latch member for causing said latch member to rock to 'an inclined position wherein it engages the inner Wall of said tubular support to lock said tube in adjusted position.

5. A stool, as defined in claim 4, in which said means comprises a spring-pressed second plunger.

6. A stool, as defined in claim 5, in which said spring-pressed second plunger has its axis parallel with and spaced from the axis of said firstnamed plunger.

'7. A stool, as defined in claim 6, in which a release rod is provided extending axially through said tubular member and tube, said rod adapted to be manually-actuated to release said latch member from engagement with said tubular support.

8. A stool, as defined in claim 7, in which means are provided for depressing said release rod to effect said disengagement.

9. A stool, as defined in claim 8, in which said last-named means comprises a spider bearing on said rod, arms extending radially from said spider, and ring means interconnecting the outer ends of said arms.

10. A stool, as defined in claim 9, in which said ring means is disposed adjacent the periphery of the seat of said stool.

11. A stool, as defined in claim 10, in which said spider is adapted to be rocked relatively to said seat in efiecting said disengagement.

12. In a stool of the character described, a tubular support, a seat-supporting tube telescopically movable in said tubular support, and means for locking said tube in adjusted position, said means comprising a latch member within said tubular support, and a compression coil spring effective to normally maintain said latch member in an inclined position in which it engages the inner wall of the tubular support.

THEODORE R. FINKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

